MSWG Weekly Newsletters 16 September 2017

Saturday, 16 September, 2017

16 September 2017

MSWG FORUM ON GOLDEN PALM GROWERS SCHEME

MSWG received several complaints on Golden Palm Growers Scheme (“Scheme”) as the growers are unhappy with the development of the Scheme. We are pleased to inform that MSWG will be holding a forum to facilitate the discussion on the issues on the Scheme and wish to invite all affected growers to this forum, which will be held as follows:

PNHB announced that the SC had, via its letter dated 12 September 2017, approved the Company’s application for the proposed acquisition by PNHB of the entire issued and paid-up share capital in TRIplc from Pimpinan Ehsan Berhad for a cash consideration of RM210 million (“Proposed Acquisition”) under Section 214(1) of the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007 and under the equity requirements for public listed companies.

We are of the views that the shareholders of PNHB would benefit from the Proposed Acquisition in the long run as based on our analysis on the information in relation to the Proposed Acquisition disclosed by PNHB on 16 December 2016, the offer price of RM210 million made by PNHB is at a discount to TRIplc’s indicated realisable net asset value of RM360 million.

GOLDEN PALM GROWERS SCHEME (“GPGS”)

According to the information released on GPGS’s website, the management company of GPGS has called for a meeting of the investors on 2 October 2017 to determine the future of the oil palm plantation scheme. As stated in the notice of meeting, the management is seeking approval from the growers for the following two (2) resolutions :

(i) Management is seeking 12 months to find an optimal realisation for the plantation (Resolution 1)

(ii) Immediate sale of the plantation which may result in a distressed and lower price sale (Resolution 2)

[Source: GPGS’s announcement on its website]

MSWG’S COMMENTS:

We see yet another interest scheme which defaulted its second phase income yield of 9% despite the fact that the average CPO price in 2017 is above RM1,500 per metric tonne. We believe the promoter of the scheme could have failed to take into consideration the rising operation cost of oil palm plantation which adversely affected its financial position and caused the scheme to default on the payment of the income yield. We are currently trying to engage with the regulator, the management company and investors to get an insight and explanation on the various issues of concern relating to the scheme.

MSWG’S AGM WEEKLY WATCH 18 – 22 SEPTEMBER 2017

For this week, the following are the AGMs/EGMs of companies which are in the Minority Shareholder Watchdog Group’s (MSWG) watch list.

The summary of points of interest is highlighted here, while the details of the questions to the companies can be obtained via MSWG’s website at www.mswg.org.my.

Date & Time

Company

Venue

19.09.17 (Tue)
10.00 am

Eastern & Oriental Bhd
(AGM)

Sime Darby Convention Centre, 1A Jalan Bukit Kiara 1, KL

20.09.17 (Wed)
10.30 am

Brem Holdings Bhd
(AGM)

Crystal Crown Hotel, Off Jalan Utara, PJ

21.09.17 (Thur)
09.30 am

NTPM Holdings Bhd
(AGM)

Bukit Jawi Golf Resort, Seberang Perai Selatan, Pulau Pinang

The points of interest to be raised:

Company

Points/Issues to Be Raised

Eastern & Oriental Bhd
(AGM)

It was stated in the Management Discussion and Analysis that upon completion of the development properties – Andaman 18 East and Andorra of STP as well as Princes House in the UK – the unsold units cost was transferred from property development costs to inventories. We also noted in Note 23 on page 211 of the Annual Report that Completed properties increased from RM210.6 million to RM430.4 million.

(1). Could the Board provide an update on the sales of these completed properties to date?

(2). What are the proposed launches for FY2018?

Brem Holdings Bhd
(AGM)

The property development, investments and investment holding segments had adopted aggressive marketing strategy to boost sales and to improve occupancy rates of its retail and office space during FY 2018.

(1). Could the Board elaborate on its marketing strategy and how much improvement it would expect in the sales of its properties as well as occupancy rates for FY 2018?

(2). The results of associates and joint ventures recorded a loss of RM1.7 mil (2016: RM1.64 mil) and RM72,297 (2016: nil) respectively for FY2017. What steps and measures would the Board take to improve the results?

NTPM Holdings Bhd
(AGM)

(1). We noted that the Group’s current manufacturing capacity utilisation rate is approaching 80%. In order to support the anticipated growing demand, the Group plans to increase its manufacturing capacity by adding new tissue paper machines in its manufacturing facilities in Malaysia and Vietnam.

What is the targeted optimum capacity utilisation rate to be achieved in FY2018?

(2). We noted under Note 8 of the Annual Report 2017, a total of RM419,981 bad debts were written off during the FY2017 compared to RM121,390 in FY2016.

Please explain on the bad debts written off which had increased 245.9% and what is the Company’s policy on bad debt written off?

MSWG’S WATCHLIST

WINTONI GROUP BERHAD (“WGB”)

In relation to WGB’s appeal against de-listing, the new Board (who were appointed at the Extraordinary General Meeting held on 20 June 2017) had submitted the plans and new direction on how to improve the financial performance of the group together with the new direction of the group to Bursa Malaysia. It has also taken cognizance of the interest of all shareholders and intended to put it on the right footing to be an ongoing listed Company.

Save for the above, the Sponsor namely M&A Securities Sdn Bhd has tendered their resignation earlier this year. The company or the new Board and new management has approached them on their re-appointment.

• With regard to the companies mentioned, MSWG holds a minimum number of shares in all these companies covered in this newsletter save for TRIplc Berhad, Golden Palm Grower Scheme and Wintoni Group Berhad.

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This newsletter and the contents thereof and all rights relating thereto including all copyright is owned by the Badan Pengawas Pemegang Saham Minoriti Berhad, also known as the Minority Shareholder Watchdog Group (MSWG).

The contents and the opinions expressed in this newsletter are based on information in the public domain and are intended to provide the user with general information and for reference only. Best efforts have been made to ensure that the information contained in this newsletter is accurate and current as at the date of publication. However, MSWG makes no express or implied warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any such information and opinions contained in this newsletter. No information in this newsletter is intended to be or should be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell or an invitation to subscribe for any, of the subject securities, related investments or other financial instruments thereof.

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